Improvement in track-clearers to grass-harvesters



upright slot under the seat of the driver.

UNITED STATES Annen wHiTELEY, o

PATENT l: OFFICE..

F SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

IMPROVEM ENTlN TRACK-CLARERS TO GRASS-HARVESTERS.l

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 11,579. date-'d August 22. 1854.

Be it known that 1,-ABNEE-WHITELEY, of Springfield, in theconnty of Glarke'and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mowing and Beaping Machines; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and'exact descriptionof the salue, reference being had to the accompanyiu g drawings, formingpart of this specification.

The improvement consists in the method of giving a quick adjustment of 'the frame from which the nger-piece'is suspended by which the fingers or guards and the knives are given point or elevated above 'obstructions that would interferewith their direct action. This adj ustmentbecomes necessary in mowiuglmeado'ws, where strips of moist land occur wherein crawfish-nests abound, and from the gravel therein it is necessary to avoid, as far as possible, cuttin ginto them, and when that cannot be avoided 'and the top'ofthe'nest mustbe passed through 'the evil may be abated by the inclined position of the finger-piece, which passes the gravel and clay of the nest quickly od 'the blades, instead.' of its remaining ,thereon until ground up and the edges of the knife or blade ruined. By my improvement I can cut over with ease and safety ot only the above, but other obstruction-as clods of earth, stones, &c.-at the l will of the driver while the machine is in motion, and also throw the 'cutters and lingers down and cut good and clear grass'close to the earth. This could \not be done if the tongue by which the machine is drawn .did not admit of an immediate adjustment without stopping the team.

In the drawings,'A A is the tongue, passing through or between jaws F, placedon the front portion of the frame B, and extends to .the rear framing, B', where it passes through an The tongue ispivotedatjln tbejaws. .EL l

Eis an upright-post rising onA, between the front and rear portions of the frame. -It

is furnished with holding-pins for retaining the lever D. 'This lever is also pivoted in the jaws 'F at gl i C is the finger-piece, connected in the usualmanner with the frame B B', and carries the lingers and knives in common mode. -The lever D has a projection below its line of motion, Y

` 1 'aiidby depressing it thefront of the frame is @iev-atea, and wim ifm@ points of thenngnrs and cutters or knives, while the rear of the sition by the pins in E. While the driver is on hisseat his foot may, if necessary, be ap'- pliedto the rear end of the tongue either in depressing or raising the end thereof.

The second improvement is in applying a rollercane,`G, combined with a shoe, C', and joint-clearer fort he purpose of clearingthe track in the cut grass. The cone G is armed with diagonally-placed bars t' @extending over therear cnd'of the cone, `and are-for the purpose of facilitating the motion, and also serves exceedsfthe pace of the roller.`

I is a swing-axis, on which the roller turns. J is the joint-clearing bar, joined to the axis. It prevents the entrance and 'winding of the gfqtSS 'lf'tfjjl'th 3136K DILDB (I'I-l..A

E is a triangular plate, hinged to the rear of not throw it suiciently out of the way. C' is the outside guard, by some called' the shoe It isto this that the track-clearer is attached by a hin ge pivoted at Innoticing the changes of position that the guard, the knives, and the finger-piece assume, it must be borne in mind thatthe hooked end ofthe tongue is the point that does not change.

In the drawings locked dow-n on the tongue A A, aswell as the is shown in dotted lines; and it will be readily understood how the intermediate changes may the rearieildot'he,tongue ardjeffect the' decutters, &c.

The operation of the frame descends, and is held in any desired poto gatherthe grass when the length thereofv the finger-piece by the side of Gr.- It feeds'the out grass -to the roller, which otherwise would.

conc track-clearer is as follows: When by `the movement offthe ma' chine the finger-piece is carried forward, the tall out grass falls on the cone- G, which receives a rotary motion by virtue of the angle'. its axis I bears to the nger-bar, and turns the cut grass outward from the standing grass,ithe4 f tri'a'ug'qlar piece H ineventin g the grass calci] 'furnishedwifll a joint-clearer, J, for the pur- .ugpn `the stubble.' In longgrassil the piece H .pose-'of clearing a, track in the cut grass. is not absolutely necessary, as the cone serves In testimony whereofI have signed my name all the 'purposes freqire'd. y before two subscribing witnesses.

Having described the nature of my iiiiprovel y ABNER WHITELEY, ments, what I claim as-my invention, and de? Witnesses; sire to secure by Letters Patent, is JOHN F. CLARK,

The reliingcene G, no'ving-on theaxisl and' 'SAML GRUBB. 

